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US mandates record-high biofuel use: Update 2
US mandates record-high biofuel use: Update 2
Updates with details from final regulatory text New York, 27 March (Argus) — The US will require record-high biofuel use over the next two years, boosting soybean farmers and alternative diesel producers at the expense of oil refiners that warned of higher pump prices. Oil refiners will have to bring billions more gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel to market in 2026 and 2027, according to new blend requirements released by President Donald Trump's administration Friday. The mandates for biomass-based diesel this year alone are more than 60pc above targets in the category last year, the biggest annual step change in program history. The requirements come as Trump and Republicans in Congress see more support for biofuels as one way to help farmers hurt by trade wars and rising input costs. They also come at the same time as war in the Middle East has pushed up the cost of oil products, raising interest in alternatives like biofuels. Requiring "the highest volumes of renewable fuels in history" will create rural jobs and "massively increase our nation's energy supply", Trump said at a White House event. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires oil refiners and importers to annually blend different types of biofuels or buy Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits from those that do. Traders expecting high quotas had already boosted the price of RINs — and key renewable diesel inputs like soybean oil — to multiyear highs this week. Friday's final rule includes a record-high mandate of 26.81bn RINs from total renewable fuel blending in 2026 and 27.02bn RINs in 2027, though fewer RINs per gallon next year for some fuels mean those future requirements are even more ambitious than they first appear. EPA sets total blend requirements and requires that a portion come from lower-carbon "advanced" biofuel types including biomass-based diesel. A gallon of corn ethanol generates one RIN, while more energy-dense fuels like renewable diesel earn more. Other updates show the Trump administration siding clearly with farmers over refiners. Larger oil companies, for instance, will have to blend more biofuels to offset the demand hit from recently generous program exemptions for some small refining rivals. Spread over the next two years, the added mandate of more than 2bn RINs equals around 70pc of biofuel volumes expected to be exempted from 2023-2025 blend quotas, higher than other options EPA considered. The administration did punt an earlier plan to penalize imports, which would have been one of the most substantial and legally contested reforms in program history. While the final rule includes few more details, EPA expects to implement some version of that provision — which could mean foreign biofuels and feedstocks receive half the RINs as domestic product — starting in 2028. Farm groups have pushed regulators to do more to restrict inputs that compete with US crops, including recycled cooking oil that major renewable diesel plants bring in from countries like China. Refiners had lobbied the administration this month to shift course, warning that higher mandates would spill into retail fuel prices already rising because of war in the Middle East. With affordability concerns top of mind for voters ahead of this year's midterm elections, the possibility of higher food and fuel prices presents political risk for Republicans. "It's baffling, with fuel prices already rising due to the conflict in Iran, that EPA is finalizing a rule that will make things far worse for consumers", said Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a group usually on board with Trump's energy policy. The mandates are certain to draw legal challenges, potentially from refiners or environmental groups. But as courts debate the details, the quotas are likely to support continued growth in not just US biofuel production but feedstock processing as well. Crop trading giants like Bunge and Cargill have invested heavily in new soybean and canola crush facilities, hoping to supply more vegetable oils to biofuel plants. Biomass-based diesel wins more than other fuels While the mandates will also support production margins for other biofuels, domestic demand for corn ethanol — the most widely used biofuel in the US — depends more on Congress. Lawmakers have struggled for months to reach a compromise on legislation that would permanently exempt a higher-ethanol gasoline blend from smog rules that currently limit summertime sales. Trump said Friday he was trusting legislative leaders to soon reach a deal. Gasoline stations can continue supplying fuel with up to 15pc ethanol this summer, more than the typical 10pc blend, because of temporary emergency regulations that the Trump administration started issuing this week. But so-called "E15" is still not sold at most US retail outlets. Renewable diesel production capacity in the US, already at record highs and growing, has boomed in part because the biofuel has fewer blend limits. By Cole Martin Final renewable volume obligations bn RINs 2025 2026 2027 Cellulosic biofuel 1.21 1.36 1.43 Biomass-based diesel 5.36* 9.07 9.20 Advanced biofuel 7.33 11.10 11.32 Total renewable fuel 22.33 26.81 27.02 *2025 biomass-based diesel mandate set in gallons, converted here to RINs Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US mandates record-high biofuel use: Update
US mandates record-high biofuel use: Update
Updates throughout with details on announcement New York, 27 March (Argus) — The US will require record-high biofuel use over the next two years, boosting soybean farmers and alternative diesel producers at the expense of oil refiners that warned of higher pump prices. Oil refiners will have to bring billions more gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel to market in 2026 and 2027, according to high-level targets previewed by President Donald Trump's administration. More details will come in final regulatory text that could be published late on Friday. The requirements come as Trump and Republicans in Congress see more support for biofuels as one way to help farmers hurt by trade wars and rising input costs. They also come at the same time as war in the Middle East has pushed up the cost of oil products, raising interest in alternatives like biofuels. Requiring "the highest volumes of renewable fuels in history" will create rural jobs and "massively increase our nation's energy supply", Trump said at a White House event. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires oil refiners and importers to annually blend different types of biofuels or buy Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits from those that do. Traders expecting high quotas had already boosted the price of RINs — and key renewable diesel inputs like soybean oil — to multiyear highs this week. Friday's final rule includes a record-high mandate of 26.81bn RINs from total renewable fuel blending this year and 27.02bn RINs next year. EPA sets total blend requirements and requires that a portion come from lower-carbon "advanced" biofuel types including biomass-based diesel. A gallon of corn ethanol generates one RIN, while more energy-dense fuels like renewable diesel earn more. Other updates show the Trump administration siding clearly with farmers over refiners. Larger oil companies, for instance, will have to blend more biofuels to offset the demand hit from recently generous program exemptions for some small refining rivals. Spread over the next two years, the added mandate equals around 70pc of biofuel volumes expected to be exempted from 2023-2025 blend quotas, higher than other options EPA considered. The administration did punt an earlier plan to penalize imports, which would have been one of the most substantial and legally contested reforms in program history. But EPA expects to implement that provision — which would mean foreign biofuels and feedstocks receive half the RINs as domestic product — starting in 2028. Farm groups have pushed regulators to do more to restrict inputs that compete with US crops, including recycled cooking oil that major renewable diesel plants bring in from countries like China. Refiners had lobbied the administration this month to shift course, warning that higher mandates would spill into retail fuel prices already rising because of war in the Middle East. With affordability concerns top of mind for voters ahead of this year's midterm elections, the possibility of higher food and fuel prices presents political risk for Republicans. "It's baffling, with fuel prices already rising due to the conflict in Iran, that EPA is finalizing a rule that will make things far worse for consumers", said Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a group usually on board with Trump's energy policy. The mandates are certain to draw legal challenges, potentially from refiners or environmental groups. But as courts debate the details, the quotas are likely to support continued growth in not just US biofuel production but feedstock processing as well. Crop trading giants like Bunge and Cargill have invested heavily in new soybean and canola crush facilities, hoping to supply more vegetable oils to biofuel plants. Renewable diesel wins more than other fuels While the mandates will also support production margins for other biofuels, domestic demand for corn ethanol — the most widely used biofuel in the US — depends more on Congress. Lawmakers have struggled for months to reach a compromise on legislation that would permanently exempt a higher-ethanol gasoline blend from smog rules that currently limit summertime sales. Trump said Friday he was trusting legislative leaders to soon reach a deal. Gasoline stations can continue supplying fuel with up to 15pc ethanol this summer, more than the typical 10pc blend, because of temporary emergency regulations that the Trump administration started issuing this week. But so-called "E15" is still not sold at most US retail outlets. Renewable diesel production capacity in the US, already at record highs and growing, has boomed in part because the biofuel has fewer blend limits. By Cole Martin Final renewable volume obligations bn RINs 2025 2026 2027 Cellulosic biofuel 1.21 1.36 1.43 Biomass-based diesel 5.36* 9.07 9.20 Advanced biofuel 7.33 11.10 11.32 Total renewable fuel 22.33 26.81 27.02 *2025 biomass-based diesel mandate set in gallons, converted here to RINs Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
West Australian LNG plants remain off line post-cyclone
West Australian LNG plants remain off line post-cyclone
Sydney, 27 March (Argus) — Operators of Western Australia's four LNG terminals located in the Pilbara region have yet to assess the total damage from tropical cyclone Narelle, which passed directly over several key offshore gas facilities in the past 48 hours. It could take until the weekend for helicopter crews to access platforms in the Indian ocean associated with several oil and gas developments, given persisting high seas and winds. Workers at most manned facilities were demobilised ahead of Narelle's passage through the region. Chevron is working to restore production at the 8.9mn t/yr Wheatstone LNG project. The facility's platform about 225km offshore WA was taken off line around 12:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on 26 March, leading the company to suspend LNG and domestic gas output. One of Gorgon's three trains located on Barrow Island, further north from the onshore Wheatstone plant, has also been affected by an outage which began at 15:00 local time on 26 March. The other two production trains and Gorgon's domestic gas facility continue to operate. Australian independent Woodside Energy, which operates two LNG terminals at its 14.3mn t/yr North West Shelf (NWS) and 4.9mn t/yr Pluto projects, said output has been interrupted at the Karratha Gas Plant, NWS LNG's onshore production facility. Production continues at its 200 TJ/d Macedon gas plant and at Pluto, a spokesperson said, with domestic gas continuing to flow to customers from its WA portfolio and the company working to mobilise its workforce to reach offshore facilities. Transport delays travelling to the city of Karratha are delaying some staff from accessing offshore platforms and sites, Argus understands. The ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier and Varanus Island operated by Pilbara Ports remain closed as of 10:00 local time. The now-category 3 Narelle remains a dangerous system generating sustained winds of up to 155 km/h. It is located 90km southwest of the town of Exmouth and has continued to move southwesterly at 20 km/h. Narelle is expected weaken further as it moves over land to the southeast by 28 March, the Bureau of Meteorology said at 10:00 local time, with heavy rains expected to fall in WA's southwest. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
London rejects calls to boost North Sea gas, oil output
London rejects calls to boost North Sea gas, oil output
London, 24 March (Argus) — The UK government has rebuked calls from energy industry group Offshore Energy UK (OEUK) to increase domestic oil and gas production. "Issuing new licences to explore new fields cannot give us energy security and will not take a penny off bills," a government spokesperson told Argus on 24 March in response to calls in the press from OEUK and several energy firms to increase North Sea gas and oil output. "The only way to truly protect ourselves from these price spikes is to get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets," the spokesperson added. OEUK released a new report on Tuesday showing that the UK could almost double the amount of gas and oil it produces through to 2050 with changes to tax and regulations, adding 3.7bn bl of oil equivalent (boe) to current projections for production from the UK continental shelf. This is on top of the 3.8mn boe over the 2025-50 period the UK is currently on track to recover, the industry organisation noted. Oil and gas production has declined by around 75pc between 1999 and 2024, department for energy security and net zero (Desnz) data shows. "Without more domestic production, the UK risks becoming increasingly reliant on energy imports at a time of rising global instability," the industry group said. "Maintaining domestic supply is therefore essential for energy security, affordability and reliability." The government is taking pragmatic steps that will ensure existing oil and gas production continues as an essential part of the UK energy mix for decades to come, while actively scaling up clean energy industries in the North Sea, the government said. The government added that issuing new licences to explore fresh fields would make no difference to the UK's current domestic energy output, as such projects typically take up to a decade to develop. GBE chair turns against increased output The chair of state-owned Great British Energy Juergen Maier changed his stance, moving to oppose calls for increased production on Tuesday, from a supportive position earlier in the week. "I am fully supportive of the government position, which is to use existing fields and tiebacks for their lifetime and not to support exploration licences for new fields," Maier said in a post on social media platform LinkedIn on Tuesday. "The end game is renewables and that we need to give supply chain companies enough time to transition," he added. Maier had presented a list of arguments supporting more oil and gas production in the North Sea on 19 March, suggesting he supported this approach. GBE was established in 2025 by the UK government to accelerate renewable energy development, enhance energy security, and support the nation's transition to clean power. Funded with £8.3bn ($11.1bn) over the current parliamentary term, GBE operates as an investment vehicle, development specialist, and project accelerator across the UK's clean energy sectors. By Lucas Waelbroeck Boix Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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